Device for condensing gases



Julylo, 1923. A51.461.364

C. R. MABEE ET AL DEVICE FOR *CONDENSING GASES Original Filed Feb. 5,'1915 LJA Patented July 10, 1923.

imitan stares Arrestaties; i

CHARLES RMABEE AND ivLAY` e. MABEE, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, I

DEVICE FOR CNDENSING GASES.

Application led February 5,V 1915, Serial No. 6,359. vRenewed December 7, 1922. y

To al? ict-0m it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLns R Manen Aand MAY C. MABnE,.of the city ofL Buffalo,

county ofv Erie, aiidState vof NewYork, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Devices for Condeii'sing Gases; and we do declarethat'the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention-relates to a condensing apparatus, and while designed more particularly for tliecondensing of steam, is equally applicable for'the condensing of various gases. i

It is one of the ypurposes of the invention to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the steam or gas to be condensed is brought lintoycontact with a surface or surfaces, which surfaces are, adapted toy have transmitted thereto a cooling temperature through the niediumi-of a cooling fluid adapted to move over said surfaces subjected to the heat from' the gas to be condensed. i I. j Y

Another feature of the'invention yis to provide novel means for imparting the necessary Inovementftov the cooling medium viiiy order lto secure more luniform circulation thereof, and whereby to more-readily and effectively condense the gasesy as they contact 'with the reverse side of the surface or sur-v faces subjected to the cooling medium. y

In carrying out'the invention it is proposed to provide a plurality of concentrically arranged annular steam or gas chests or spaces arranged in alternate relation with an annular series of spaces for tlie'receptionl of a cooling medium, together 'with means* for properly circulating said cooling medium. t i

More particularly the invention includes an apparatus of the character above described, involving a fewer num-ber .of parts,

simpler indesign and construction,morel compact, less expensive' to produce and more efficient in operation thanprior apparatus or devices heretofore employed and at pres! ent in use' for like purposes'.`

Still further, theinvention contemplates an arrangement. ofthe temperature treating surfaces inf'as compacta form as possible,

conducive to securing rapid movement, 01. circulation of theco'oling fluid over the treat@ ing surfaces with an economical expenditure of the power employed.

`Again, it is contemplated to so constructA and arrange many of the parts'that theymay be detached and removed at will for the pur-4v pose of cleansing, repairing or'replacementV 60 In the drawings, Fig.v l is a vertical cross-` section of our improved device.

Fig. 2 is a scross section ofthe same, sub'- stantially on the line 2-2ofFig. l1.-'

Vith more'particular` reference to the drawings whereinV like reference' numerals `refer to correspondingparts throughout the several views, 3a container is provided, the

same being substantially of cylindrical form and arranged upright. Thesai'd container comprises a cylindrical side wall 1),a bot-` f tom wall (2), and a dome-shaped topa-.wall (3), the top wall (3) y.and side wall (l) conf venrently having abutting 'outwardly pro- Jecting annular flanges (4) secured to one another as by removable bolts or the like `(5) The container as just 'described constitutes a substantially closed gas-tight vessel, but as* has. been appreciated, by removing' the bolts (5) the top or head of the container maybe removed to afford access to. the interior of the body portion thereof. Leading from any suitable source of Steam Vsupply is a suitable conduit (6) connectingfwith-the top wall (3)l at substantially the center thereof, whereby to' deliver to the interior of `-the-container y the steamor'other gas to bek condensed` Mounted upon the side wall (l) vof the container adjacent the top thereof is a suitable support (7) the saine being conveniently sel' cured iii any desired mannerk as through the i medium of an'annular angle connection (8')l secured respectively to said supportV (7) andthe sidewall (1) 'of the co-ntainer. 'Said' support (7) is further braced and supported preferably throughpthe medium of one o'r more rods, two beingillustrated at (9)5 as projecting upwardly from the supporti (7) and 'secured Vin any desired manner to the topV wall (3) of the container as by passing through apertures in said wall andk retained in placeiby suitable nuts (10).

Bepending from said support (7) which conveniently takes the form of an angle bar, are a concentric series of annular walls (11), which said walls are corrugated. circumferentially and form alternate steam chests (12) and water spaces (13). The adjacent walls forming the steam chests are connected to form a closed bottom or lower end (14) which lower ends have an annular flange or extension (15) projectingl inwardlybeyond the inneil wally of each steam chest. top so as to be in open communication with the chamber formed by the dome or top (3). of the container7 which latter as has been describedis in communication with the steam inlet (6) of: the container. The walls surrounding the annular water spaces (13,) are connected. to. form a closed top and'` separated from one another toA Jform anropen bottom as clearly illustrated inl Fig; 1 of the drawings.

'The annular series of steam chestsiormedby the walls (11) as above described are oic gradually increasing lengths from the center'steam chest tothe outer steam. chest of said annular series; that is to say, the annular steam chest next adjacent to and sur-rounding the central. steam chamber projects below the lowerend of the central chamber,. and so on throughout the series.

The; coolingi medium for transmitting the cooling temperature to the walls surrounding; the steamL chests, which cooling medium conveniently takes the form of water, is preferably introduced through oneor more conduits (16) projecting throughthe top wallA (3) and havingl vertically disposed offset pipes; (17) communicating` one with eachfof theA water spacesY (13). A suitable control valve is provided for regulating t'hefsupplyy of water introduced into the waterspaces. or to entirely shut` off the passageotwfater through the conduit (16), as desired. A suitable stuffing-box (19) is provided for effectively closing the opening: in the wall ot the container tor the reception of the conduit (16). Also connecting with the water conduit (1G) is an auxiliary conduit. or by-pass (20) connecting w-ith an annular pipe or conduit (21),

' surrounding" the steam inlet and having in the lower sur-face thereof a series of outlets so as to deliver in the. form of fine jets or sprays, a given quantity ot water to form upon the exterior wall ofthe container afiilm of water. This auxiliary con duit. (20.) -isVv controlled by a suitable vvalve 22). In .order to take off the water as formed within the steam chests, we preferably provide as vertically disposed pipe (23) in each The steam chests are open at tliel erably hexagonal vshape and. having iat upper and lower surfaces as indicated iny dotted-lines in Fig. 2. Saidrotors (26) are4 of increasingl diameters'- trom: theY topmost to the lowermost'onefin the vertical series,-

there being a rotor for each water space.`

The means for imparting rotatable movement to-the rotorspreferably takes the form of a steam turbine (27) mounted-upon the base of the container, the turbine'being'oiy any approved type andhaving a stean'ninlet,

pipe (28) with a valve (29) for regulating. the admission of steam fon actionupon the movable par-t 'of the turbine.

the bottom ofthe wallgof theV container. and. connected to the rotors (26,),in any con.-v venient manner. The exhaust steam from the turbine is conveniently discharged through the conduit. (31) into' the steam.

chamber or reservoir at a point adjacent.

the top of the container.

The rotatable'shaft (30) has,Y an upwardly extending. part adaptedfor connection with suitable fan blades (32) which in the ro.- tatable movement or" thev shaft-areadaptedv to, diffuse the; gas,-v to belzcondensed asl-it. enters the interior ofy thev container, andalso to direct said'gas in-.a downwardand outward direction whereby`r toe-ffectually circulate the gas in they annular` steam spaces (12).`

A vacuum gauge iswprov-ideda` the saine beingv connected conveniently to. the, top wall off-theA container and'incom munica'tion with the interior, andV likewise said top wall may be provided with one or. more sight openings (34e)l as desired.

An inclined trough or'collar` (35) is sup-- ported by braces: (3,6) vupon thecylindrical.v wall (l) of they container aty a point ad jacent to and. below)4 the.l abutting f flanges of the top `and sidef wall' o-the container whereby to receiveV the water as'lit tlicklesy downwardly from. the outeri surface of the top wall. over said flanges;y The-trough yat its base: does nothave a snugltit. with the..

The turbine is; adapted to impart rotatable movement. to..` a` suitable shaft (30)" projecting through-1 various annular steainchestswhere it isvv introduced into the annular lspaces sur-v tainer below theV tro-ughisa suitable annular troughffr') adapted to receive the water as yit flows downwardlyover. the :outer sur.

face of the cylindrical wall of the container, a discharge conduit (38) being-provided for said trough.

the AWater spaces vofthe container is a suitable .conduit (39) .having a valve-c-ontrol (40) whereby to permit regulation :ofthe discharge of the cooling Huid from the container.V

rllhe operation issubstantially as follows:

The gas or vapor to be 'condensed is iny troduced into the container through `the in let conduit (6) V.where itis subjected-to the diffusing `blade (32)( and passes into the delivered into contact with the cooling surfaces (ll) which causes the steam togcon`v` dense and pass `down to the lower extremity of the annular steam chests from whence it is withdrawn through the pipes to any suit-` able receptacle or place of deposit.

The valve (29) being openfand the turbine set in motion, there is imparted rotatable movementlto the diffusing lelement just referred to andA also4 rotatable movement at a high velocity of the rotors (26),

thereby forcing the cooling water outward and in a circular path around and'against the walls of the, annular steaml chests on the outer surfaces thereof. v The rotors (26) tend to project the cooling water outward in travel of the cooling fluid in the present' apparatus is considerably greater than in other known apparatus for similar'purposes; It has been seen that the inlet `for the water at the top of the container i's valve controlled with the result that the supply of water may be entirely shutoff if desired, or regulated to a nicety. Thisis also true with regard to the outlet for the water at the` base of the container. Assuming that both valves arel open, the water will descend over the wallsl of the annular steam cham-f bers Aand find an exit through the -outlet con-ni duit 39. After a supply of waterl has been rounding the steam chambersbothfvalves,

may,` if desired5 be closed, yin lwhich eventV assumingfthat the rotors-.26 are placed iii operation, the water will be rapidlyl cir,

culated `in a circularpath,and have an up' ward l tendency, somewhat :after the manner of centrifugal maehineshaving an inlet at'` the base and an agitator which iforcesfthe Arranged in communication with-.one fof `Said surface'.

- liquid upwardly -'tof a discharge )opening f at the t-op. Ascthe iwater. becomes lieated,utlie. 'Y

discharge valve 4:0 mayg-be opened, "and l'the inlet valve may-likewisebeopened, whereby to. permit ofthe escape of Vthe heated water, and they admission fof the; cooler waterli j Preferably the valve (22) in ltheauxiliary conduit lor bypass p (2 0) is `regulated in` such a way as to permit aj desirable portionwofK ythe cooling fluid toflow out ofthe openings 'formed inthe annular pipe .or ringrsur-- rounding the steam linletf (6),`said cooling f fluid passing over the exterior, surfacesof -the dome-shaped. top. of the containerl'and the exteriorsurface-.of 'the cylindricalvsid'ef,v

soV

wall (l) oftheLc-ontainer thereby actingi-as an auxiliary-tothe `cooling fluid surfaces within the container or condenser and. therea by increasing itsicapacity to'conden'se gases and alsoobviate the necessity of a larger.ap

paratus'to aecomplish'a gi'ven'-.a--inount:of v l work. VThis cooling -water vpassessover the; f external ysurface of theY container inthe.

form off-a lthin film Thev rotors(26) are so arranged and'po sitioned with regard to the, lower extremis:` ties ofthe steam chests as to cause the l.cooling iiuid to .take on .a circumferential mo.. tionin-each'of the'series Vof spaces providedy for fthe circulation,of-said cooling fluid. Each annular space forthe cooling water is lprovided ywith la 'fro-tor, for the circulation of .said cooling water -andas yhas been. seen, the diameters ofthemrotors differ in pros portionfto vthe diameters ofk the steam ,chests andwater spaces.` `The annular inward pro` substantially covering s.

jectonsat thelo-wer endsxof thel steam' i chests tend, ytol form abutments which coop-1 erate with the: rotorsto resist downward motion of the cooling Huid. f

By reasonof thepeculia-rshape; preferl ablyhexagonal, ofthe rotors, 4the saine tendU to propel and projectthe cooling'uid in an outward direetiomfthereby making the centrifugal motionmore pronounced.`

Means other than the .steam-turbine(27) may beprovided if desired .forimparting-the necessary rotatable movementto'shaft (30)v f and associated parts', though' the" turbine is preferredin this connection.

\ The -walls forming` .and separatingthe water fand steam 'spaces fare `preferably formed of copper ory other suitable metal 'i capablev ofrapidlyl transmitting temp`era-.. tures,4 and by reason of the corrugationsv formed in the'y` metallic walls, the vtotal-'area of kthe surfaces-is increased,

It4 may be-,desirable attiines tol introduce the cooling watentliroufrh the conduit (39)?y and` aty the sanie timethejnietalisfreinforced.A

instead -offthe-'conduit` 16), ,andthi'salternative 'operationginayf be madewithoutthe v necessity of materialchangesfin.the structures as illustrated. Likewise fdesired, theiso l i container may be arranged horizontally instead ot vertically as illustrated and de-V scribed, in which eventfobviousmodifications of the means for applying to the ,exterior surface of the containerthe iilm ot'cooling' tluidmay be resorted to.

lVhatv We claim is:

l. In an upright surface condenser, the combination of acylindrical container',- a: plurality of annular steam chests mounted therein. andseparated to formi therebetween ay plurality of` annularspaces, meanstor introducing a cooling i'iuid between. the. ex.;-

terior surfaces otsaid annular steam chests,

and connected rotors operativelyassociated? one with each otsaid spaces whereby -to circulate the cooling-v uid .over the surfaces of the steam chests.l

2. In a condenser,

container, a plurality ot concentrically arranged annular steam Ychests mountedtherein andv separated to torni'. 2id-'pluralityu .of

spaces betweenrsaid steam chests, means-.for

delivering gas to: be condensed into said steam chests, means for deliveringra cooling vertically disposed container having there in a concentric series ot' annulargas orsteanr chests, and alternately'. arranged annular fluid cooling chambers, and independent means operatively positioned with. respect te each or" said cooling fluid spaces whereby to impart" to; the cooling fluid` inA each of said spaces circumferential movement.

- e. In a. condenser, thegcombination ot a vertically disposed container having 'there inl a: concentric series` o't`-'aninilarf gas. ori '1 steam chests, and alternately arranged annular fluid cooling chambers, independent meansoperatively positioned With respect vto each' ot said' cooling fluid spaces, and means for rotating the said last-mentioned means at ahigh speed whereby' thecooliiigiluid ivill be circulated lengthwise'as Well `ascii'` cumterentially over.V the walls of'. the steam chests.

5. ln a condenser, the ycombination'o't'a i. cylindrical container, aV series ot.l annular: steam .chests concentricallyV disposed lWithinthe container and separated. romone an'-V other to torni a series of cooling spaces, aV plurality of rotors-ot different diameters,

one for each ot'said cooling spaces, a turbine eXterior of said container connected with'said'yrotors, and aneXhaust'pip'e adapta; edito convey the exhaust steamfromthe tur-v bine'. to al peint 1in" communication' With" the G55 Steam chests. 'y

the combination oi" a and. means. tori withdrawing; the

6i inay condenser, the combination ot ay container, a plurality of separatedv concen-I trically arranged annular steam chestsWith-- inthe container, the lower edges of' said chestsbeing arranged in different verticali planes, mea-ns for introducing a cooling me'-V dium into the container and a series of? rotors ot different diameters at the lower edge ci the chestsV adapted to circulate thek cooling iiuid in thespac'es between the steam chests.A

7. In a condenserY the combination of a vertically disposed cylindrical container having theiewithin a plurality of sepa-rated concentrically arranged' annular steam chests, means for/introducing steam to said' chests at the top thereof, outlet pipes from said chests, means 'for introducinga coolingl fluid to the container androtorsl in operative association With each space between the steam chests whereby to circulate vsaid cool' ing iiuid through said space-s.

8. In a. condenser, the combination of a# vertically disposed cylindrical' container having therein a plurality of separated concentrically arranged annular steam chests ot variable lengths, said chests ormiii'gl therebetween annular cooling VfluidC spaces, spaced rotors ot different diameters, one for each cooling duid space andr inoperative-position to circulate the cooling fluid circumterentially over the. walls of' the chests and aturbinev connected with the' container tor imparting' movement tothe rotors.'

9. ln` an apparatus of the character de'- scribed, the combination off a vertically dis#rv posed container having a steam inlet'and an inlet for Water or the like,v Walls Withinthe container dividing the sameinto a.l series-otI annular steam chestsy andv Water kspaces arf ranged inv alternate relation With'- one'. an: other, rotors Withinl the container for circu#V lating the, Water' through the Water chambers', and connected'rotatable mea-nsv for diffusing the gas'through the steam chests as' introduced into the container.'-

10.111 a condenser, the'combination'- ot a vertically' dispose-d substantially cylindrical container` having therewithin a` plurality of concentrically arranged annular 'steamchestsf separated from one another by annular Water spaces, said container having asubstan-4 ti ally central opening inthe top thereof' forl the introduction. oiisteaml or thev like, saidi opening being in communication `with an" open end of the steam chests, a ivate-r conduit' projecting through one Wall ofthe container andV adapted to discharge Water into' the Watery spaces between the steaml chests, air auxiliary conduit leading from the., water conduit and adapted lto dischargeA vvatery upon the exterior Wall 'ofthe c'ontainenand a plurality ofv rotors, oneforeach oiitheM Water chambers` adapted; to circulate' the Water' endivise as' well 'asl circuinterentiallyr over theivvallof said steam chests.

lll)

lll() ria l1. In a condenser, the combination of a cylindrical container, a plurality of annular chests mounted therein and separated to form therebetween a plurality of annular spaces, means for introducing a fluid becontainer, a plurality of concentrically ar ranged annular chests mounted therein, and separated to form a plurality of spaces 'between said chests, means for delivering material into said chests, means for delivering fluid into said spaces between the chests," an

independent rotor for each space whereby to impartto the fluid circumferential and endwise movement .in said spaces, and means for withdrawing material yfrom the said chests.

Signed at Toronto, in the county ofpYo'rlr,

in the Province of Ontario, in the Dominion' of Canadapthis fourth` day of February,

y Y CHARLES R. MABEE.-

v v MAY C. MABEE. f Witnesses: o J. M, FOSTER,

E.` PATTERSON, 

